Few of life’s luxuries lift our spirits and promote our self-esteem as effectively as beauty products. This feel good factor more often than not comes with a hefty price tag attached to it. Add the words ‘organic’, ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’ to the label and the cost is higher still. Or is it? Beauty products need not be costly. You can achieve professional results at home on a shoestring budget.

Skin care products are among the most popular beauty treatments. From cleansers to toners to lotions, the more they claim to do the more expensive they generally are. Many of the store bought products often contain toxic substances, many of which are synthetically derived from petrochemicals. These ingredients have the potential for causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, allergic respiratory reactions, and skin and eye irritations. Many chemicals found in cosmetics don't cause immediate visible signs of toxicity, but affect our health negatively over time through repeated use.

Making your own beauty products saves you money and ensures complete control over the ingredients. This is especially useful if you have sensitive or allergic skin. It is surprisingly simple to achieve excellent results with relatively little effort and expenditure. Many every day food items such as honey, eggs, cucumber, fruits, and others have been used as beauty enhancers for centuries. Eggs are very versatile. To tone and tighten skin, apply a beaten egg white to your face and rinse it off after it dries.

To remove excess oil, whip an egg yolk and mix it with six tablespoons of honey to make a peel off mask. Masking is the oldest of all the beauty arts. Masks rejuvenate and revitalize skin by removing accumulated dead skin cells and restoring normal epidermal function. Regular use of a facial mask tightens pores and stimulates the circulation of blood to the face, thereby bringing oxygen and other essential nutrients to the skin.

Honey is a natural anti-bacterial agent and moisturizer. It contains trace minerals and amino acids which are beneficial to skin and hair. It may be used on the face as a mask (clover honey is recommended for dry skin, while oily and combination skin benefits from orange blossom honey) and on hair as a conditioning treatment to add shine and moisture. For a honey hair rinse, combine one teaspoon of honey with four cups of warm water and one drop of your favourite essential oil or perfume. Apply this mixture to freshly washed hair and let air dry.

For a refreshing facial, pour boiling water over dried chamomile flowers in a bowl and inhale, holding your face a few inches above the water. You can even use the left over liquid to rinse your hair with afterwards. Apart from the benefits to your skin, this treatment also has health benefits for nose, throat and lungs and is especially beneficial for colds and bronchial infections.
For an all over beauty treatment, add half a cup of powdered milk to a tub full of hot water. It acts as a skin softener.

For added benefit and relaxation, add a muslin bag filled with your favourite herbs to the bath. For a soothing effect, try chamomile flowers or rose flowers. Basil, bay, rosemary, or thyme have an energizing effect. Sage and strawberry leaves relieve muscle aches and painful joints. A handful of oatmeal and two teaspoons of sea salt make an invigorating body scrub.

Massage has a relaxing effect on the body and the mind. It loosens tension and blockages and stimulates blood circulation and the lymphatic system, which plays an important role in the body’s immune system. Massage oils consists of a carrier oil (or oil blend) to which essential oils are added. Carrier oils are vegetable oils used to dilute the concentrated essential oils. They help to slow down the evaporation of the essential oils and help absorb them into the skin. For maximum benefit, ‘extra virgin’ or cold pressed vegetable oils should be used.

Popular carrier oils include sweet almond, grape seed, sunflower, sesame, wheat germ, olive and peanut oil. Nut allergy sufferers are advised to avoid nut based oils. Jojoba oil is a very popular oil due to its nutritional properties. Its structure is very close to human sebum so it is easily absorbed. Jojoba oil allows the skin to breathe, unlike other oils. It nourishes the skin and moisturizes it at the same time. Jojoba is actually a liquid wax, not an oil.

Making your own beauty products not only saves you money and gives you control over what goes on your body, it’s also easy and fun. Happy mixing!